Brooklyn Sunset Park Fire Kills 6; Lithium Batteries Probed

Six people died in a fast-moving fire at a two-story home on 58th Street in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood early Thursday, according to reports based on Fire Department of New York (FDNY) figures. Investigators have not determined what caused it.

What happened

The first call came in at about 1:39 a.m. on November 5, according to a PEOPLE report republished by Yahoo News. Additional alarms followed at 1:46 a.m. and 2:10 a.m., and the fire was declared under control at 4:28 a.m. The FDNY sent 74 units and 231 fire and EMS personnel to the three-alarm fire. Flames spread to an adjoining building.

Officials told reporters the fire appears to have started on the second floor and then moved through the structure, according to ABC30's report. Crews used water and ladders to look for fire hidden behind walls and siding.

Casualties

Four people were pronounced dead at the scene. Two more, a man and a woman, died after being taken to a hospital, according to ABC30. The FDNY said seven people were hurt, including three firefighters, and PEOPLE reported that one of the injured had serious but non-life-threatening injuries. ABC30 noted that its own counts did not fully add up, and a headline on a CBS New York page referred to nine injured, so the final tally may change. The identities of the victims have not been made public.

Displaced residents and aid

Multiple residents were left without housing. The American Red Cross is providing temporary housing, according to WABC as cited by PEOPLE. No outlet gave a number for how many people were displaced. The city's Department of Buildings was also notified.

The investigation

Fire marshals remained at the scene. ABC30 reported that two lithium-ion batteries were found and that investigators are working to determine whether they played any role. PEOPLE reported that a hazmat team was requested to assess a lithium-ion battery and that it is not known whether the battery is connected to the fire. Neither the FDNY nor the city has named a cause, and none should be assumed.

ABC30 reported that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said e-bike fires have risen to more than 400 this year, and that seven people had died in lithium-ion battery fires in the city before this blaze, including four members of one family in a Bronx fire the previous week. We have not independently confirmed those totals.

What this means for renters

Reports describe the building as a two-story home, and they do not say how the residents lived there or whether anyone rented. But the safety questions apply to any renter, especially in small multi-unit buildings and converted homes:

• Check your alarms. Test smoke alarms monthly, and ask your landlord in writing to repair any that fail.
• Know two exits. In older and converted buildings, confirm every bedroom has a usable second way out.
• Charge batteries carefully. Use the charger that came with the device, charge while you are awake and near an exit, and do not leave e-bike batteries charging in hallways or stairwells. See our explainer on e-bike and scooter battery fires in apartments.
• Insure your belongings. A renters policy can cover loss of use and replacement costs; see our guide to renters insurance after a fire.

We will update this story if the FDNY announces a cause.

Photo: An FDNY engine at a fire in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, by Kidfly182 via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY 4.0. File photo; it does not show the Sunset Park fire.